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Alma E. Mills Meyers

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Alma E. Mills Meyers

Birth	:	1871 South Dakota, USA
Death	:	9 Apr 1960 Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA
Burial	:	Clearfield Cemetery, Grant Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.8100014, -94.4629974
Plot	:	Section NW, Plot 124, Grave 1
Description	:	Alma’s cremated remains were not initially taken after her death and for many years were available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who was related. In September 2016 her ashes were claimed by a relative. Alma already had a headstone at the Old Vancouver City Cemetery in Vancouver, Washington so on 9/22/2017 her family placed her ashes beneath her headstone. According to her passport application Alma was born in South Dakota on 5/16/1872. She was actually born in the Dakota Territory in an area that became South Dakota after statehood in 1889. Her parents, Andrew... Read More	Alma’s cremated remains were not initially taken after her death and for many years were available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who was related. In September 2016 her ashes were claimed by a relative. Alma already had a headstone at the Old Vancouver City Cemetery in Vancouver, Washington so on 9/22/2017 her family placed her ashes beneath her headstone. According to her passport application Alma was born in South Dakota on 5/16/1872. She was actually born in the Dakota Territory in an area that became South Dakota after statehood in 1889. Her parents, Andrew Jackson Mills and Maria McCollum, were both born in Illinois about 1841. They married in Chicago in 1866 and moved to the Dakota Territory about 1868. Alma’s mother had 6 children with 5 of them being alive in 1900. Among those siblings (all born in the Dakota Territory) were Edmona “Edda” (born in 1873), George “Mort” (in 1878), Clarence (about 1878), Chapin Arthur (in 1880), and brother Marion Fayette "Fay" (in 1882). Alma was the oldest of the children in her family. During the census of 1870, before she was born, her parents lived in Clay County, in the Dakota Territory where her father was a farmer and legislator. The year Alma was born her father was the speaker of the house. In the 1880 census Alma was 9 years old, living in Bon Homme, Dakota Territory with her parents and siblings. By 1900 Alma’s parents were living in Clark County, Washington. Alma was not living with them at that time. She reportedly completed 4 years old college. Alma bought and sold land in Washington, Oregon and Mexico. On 2/24/1908 Alma married journalist William H. Meyers in Spokane, Washington. It was said to be the first marriage for each of them. He was born about 1872 in Peoria, Illinois to German immigrants Michael and Magdalene Meyers. At the time of the 1910 census William was living alone and farming in Clackamas County, Oregon (near Portland). He was listed as married. Alma has not been found in the 1910 census. In 1917 sister Edda married for the first time at the age of 43. Her husband, John J. Stoddard was an attorney. In January 1918 Alma sued William for divorce. She alleged cruel and inhumane treatment. She said she had accumulated $4000 in property that her husband wanted her to mortgage and give him the money. She said she refused and he became mean to her. She reported he did get $500 of her money and once left her stranded in New York City with only $30. On 11/20/1919 she applied for a passport to go to Moria, Sonora, Mexico for about 3 months to look after property. She took the train from Portland, Oregon to Mexico in December 1919. She was divorced and listed her profession as a farmer and teacher. Although she applied for the passport in Portland she was living in neighboring Vancouver, Clark County, Washington. After returning to the US, Alma wrote an article about her trip and it was published in the Oregon Daily Journal (Portland) newspaper on 2/29/1920. At the time of the January 1920 census, Alma was 48 and living on 13th Street in Portland. She was not employed at that time. With her was her 14 year old nephew Pierre Mills. He was born in Washington about 1906. His father was Alma’s brother Fay Mills. Pierre was attending school and working as a newspaper carrier. In February 1922 she received a state teaching certificate in Corvallis, Oregon, the location of Oregon State University. Her father died in 1925. His obituary indicated he served during the Civil War in the Illinois 52nd cavalry. He served as a member to the South Dakota. For one term he was Speaker of the House in South Dakota. He served in the Washington State legislatures in 1895. A year and 2 days after her father’s death. Alma’s mother died in 1926 after falling and breaking her hip. Both Andrew and Maria Mills were buried in Old Vancouver City Cemetery in Vancouver, Washington. During the census of April 1930 Alma lived alone on a farm she owned in Alpine, Benton County, Oregon. She was unemployed, but listed herself as a public school teacher. In the April 1940 census Alma was 68 and still living in Alpine. Although she was not employed and not seeking work, it was indicated she had income from other sources than employment. The home she owned was valued at $700 which was comparable to the other homes in the area. Also in her home was James Hays, a hired man who was a farm laborer who had moved to Oregon from California. He was 60 years old and single. In 1945 Alma rented out 125 acres for $100/year. She also owned timber land which she harvested by hiring loggers. In January 1948 Alma’s house in Alpine burned to the ground. Nothing could be saved. Fortunately Alma was visiting a neighbor at the time. The house was partially covered by insurance. Within a day two local fraternal organization built a one room home for Alma and furnished it. She said she was “well supplied and truly grateful to her friends in the area.” Shortly after the house fire a fundraising dance was held in the local IOOF hall. It was considered a great success and raised $91.75 for Alma. In 1951 while a farmer was combining his grain on Alma’s land, the field caught on fire and spread across half the field. Sister Edda Stoddard died in Washington in 1955. It is believed she had no children. She was buried in Old Vancouver Cemetery where her parents were buried. On 10/24/1955 Alma was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. On 4/9/1960, after living at the institution for four and a half years, Alma died there of bacterimia (bacteria in the blood stream) due to a bladder infection. Her condition was complicated by cachexia, weakness and wasting away of the body due to chronic illness. She was 87 years old. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Alma E. Mills Meyers's memorial?
Alma E. Mills Meyers's memorial is located at: Clearfield Cemetery, Grant Township, Ringgold County, USA.
When did Alma E. Mills Meyers death?
Alma E. Mills Meyers death on 9 Apr 1960 in Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Alma E. Mills Meyers's memorial?
Latitude: 40.8100014
Longitude: -94.4629974

Family Members:

Parent

Andrew Jackson Mills

(1841 - 1925)

Maria McCollum Mills

(1841 - 1926)

Siblings

Edda Mills Stoddard

(1873 - 1955)

Chapin Arthur Mills

(1880 - 1967)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Clearfield Cemetery
Grant Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8100014, -94.4629974

2. Cabaret Cemetery
Grant Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7981630, -94.3861730

3. Tindle Cemetery
Lincoln Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8561500, -94.3958000

4. Bethel Cemetery
Grant Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7915330, -94.3703610

5. Rising Sun Cemetery
Lincoln Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8710000, -94.4065000

6. Keller Cemetery
Jefferson Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8212100, -94.3533100

7. Diagonal Cemetery
Washington Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7936680, -94.3368050

8. Dead Mans Cut Cemetery
Washington Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7571500, -94.3552000

9. Morgan Cemetery
Kent, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9080009, -94.4520035

10. Bruning Cemetery
Kent, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9049988, -94.4069977

11. Centenary Cemetery
Jefferson Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8269590, -94.3247960

12. Fairview Cemetery
Lenox, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8788986, -94.5699997

13. West Fairview Cemetery
Lenox, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8786011, -94.5744019

14. Tando-Winslow Cemetery
Sharpsburg, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8277740, -94.6051600

15. North Fairview Cemetery
Lenox, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8824997, -94.5753021

16. Bohemian Cemetery
Washington Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7758000, -94.3139000

17. Benton Cemetery
Waubonsie Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7193130, -94.3568110

18. Union Cemetery
Jefferson Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8772440, -94.3247540

19. Conway Cemetery
Conway, Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7550011, -94.6102982

20. Grove Chapel Cemetery
Kent, Union County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9350110, -94.3947670

21. Platte River Cemetery
Benton Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6759987, -94.4380035

22. Marshalltown Cemetery
Waubonsie Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7192420, -94.3281070

23. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Benton Township, Ringgold County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6803000, -94.3947000

24. Grove Cemetery
Taylor County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8555984, -94.6438980